Electric switch



March 29, 1932. j ALLEN 1,851,341

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 23, 1929 INVENTUR Patented Mar. 29, 1932 @FECE JOHN H. ALLEN, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL STEEL WARES LIMITED, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA ELECTRIC SVTITCH Application filed February 23, 1929.

This invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to the construction, arrangement and connection of electric switches of the type commonly used on elecij tric ranges and stoves.

The object of this invention is to so construct and arrange the switches, busbars and terminals that the connections are easily accessible on the front for the installation, re-

li moval, or repair of each switch, individually or collectively, and to simplify the construction of individual switches.

I attain my objects by providing a panel or other support for a switch or a series of switches which are arranged adjacent one another across the front of the stove. Two busbars run from the source of power across the upper front part of each switch block, and are in stepped relationship. Each of these busbars is arranged in sections, each section of which is secured to the switch block and connected with the switch terminals. Each of these sections is detachably securable to the sections of the adjacent switches. At the lower part of each switch block is located a fuse, which is thus safely removed from the busbars so that danger of contact is avoided when it is desired to remove or replace a fuse. Leads to the element are insulated and pass over the busbars through a slot in the switch block to the stove element. These may be enclosed in a flexible casing.

The invention is hereinafter more particu-. larly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which a the front of a stove 2 immediately beneath the Serial No. 342,127.

cooking top 3. In Figure 1 of the drawings a plurality of such switches is shown. In front of the row of switches a removable switch panel 4 is secured, having openings therein through which pass the stems 5 of the switches, the handles 6 being secured to the stems in front of the switch panel in a known manner and adapted to indicate the positions of the switches; namely, off, full, medium, or low. Below this panel is a removable tray 7 having an upturned portion 7 at the front thereof adapted to enclose the lower part of the switch block, where is located the fuse 8.

The switch itself comprises a switch block 9 which is stepped at one end, the stepped portion being indicated by 9 A slot 9 is formed in the stepped portion 9 and passes through the block. A busbar 10 passes across the front of the switch block and is secured to the stepped portion. Adjacent the slot 9 the busbar 10 is flattened against the fall of the step. This enables the slot to be formed close to the fall, and permits the use of 'a narrow step, so that a very compact construction is obtained. At one side of the switch block the busbar is provided with a threaded hole and at the other side of the busbar extends beyond the edge of the switch block and is provided with a hole adjacent its end. In assembling a series of switches they are placed side by side on the panel 1 and secured thereto by screws or bolts 11. The busbars 10 on each switch are thus adapted to be secured together, the hole in the extension of the busbar being adapted. to cooperate with the threaded hole of the adj acent busbar and to be clamped together by a screw 12.

A busbar 13 constructed similarly to the busbar 10 passes across the front of the upper end of the switch block adjacent the stepped portion and is likewise provided with an extension having a hole therein at one end and likewise has a threaded hole at the other end so that'the busbar on the adjacent switch maybe similarly connected therewith. Wires 14 lead from a source of power to the busbars. 15 is an alternative section or block of similar type of construction, the

block inv a channel or groove to the terminal- 8 at the lower end of theblock. Thisterminal extends through the block to the central contact point 16 of the fuse 8. Theshe'll of the fuse 8 is connected directly with an adjacent stationary switch contact 17.

I Thetbusbarrl3-has-a=lug 13 formed wthereacross the frontof said block; and allug onon-whichforms aterminal therefor and a terminalfor-the lead '19 to the stove element. A-sta-tionary; switch.- contact 25 is secured. to

and supported by the said. lug. 13 Stationary contacts 20- andf2ll are-each supported 4 by. lugs or brackets 20 and; 21 respectively, secured to andextending to the frontof the switch block and forming terminals ontheface of the switch blockfor leads' 19. The-leads-pass overthebusbars 10 and 13 through the slot 9 ands-from thence to. thestove element. The leads 19,22 and-23-are heavily insulated to prevent contact: with :the busbars. For. greater safety'th'e three leads mayberenclosed in. a flexible casing.

Detailsv of thewcon'struction. of L the switchproper-being:oldin the arta-re not described,

the switch, howeverybeing provided withthe.

' v usualunovable contacts which are adapted to contact with the stationary contacts.

It i will. be seen. from-. the above description that I have devised 1 av switch, all the connections of v which: areeasily accessible from thefront thereof andwhich isvery simple in construetlon, since a: number of' conductors and connections of.- variouskinds thatare: usually necessaryin ordinary types I of switch a-re eliminated. rilthou-gh the bushars-are conveniently arranged at" the front-of the fuse, the switch is-nevertheless safe in usebecause: the fuse, which is the only part likely to requirehandling, is l0-- cated -at a place remotefroni the busbars and -thereiis no :dangeri of! theuser'touching anylive connectionslwhen removing-201 replacing fuses. 4 Moreover-theremovalor replacement ofvone switch of a series 1s fac litated by the construction of the bus'oars in sections,.each

section of 'which m'ay. be easily disconnected, thisrcon'struction b einga departure from the I usual construction-in which continuous one piece busbarsextending the whole length of.

the 1 switch 1 assembly; are used.

What I claim is 1: A switch including a switch block steppedatone'end'and having a slot: in the stepped" portion af busbar -extending across thestepped portion; a conductor connected TLLthereWith; afuse located: at the. end -of the switch contact pointshaving-terminalsztliere on; and leads connected to the terminals and extending across the busbar and through the slotinthe'block to the element.

2. A switch block. .in .which is mounted a switch having movable and stationary contacts, and terminals; busbars extending one ofthe bus bars adapted to form a terminal and having one of the stationarycontacts-supported thereby.

3.- A switch blockthavin'g. one end thereof stepped I and i a. slot-extending through: thestepped portion; a busbar. extending across the front of said. switch block. at one end.

thereof adjacent thestepp ed portion; another bu-sbarv extending across .thev stepped portion. and being flattened: against the fallof. the

step adj acent the slot and asswitch mounted in the block and having movableandstationg ary contacts- 4; Aswitchblocle. within which is mounted a switch, havingmovable and stationarycontacts mounted within th'eblock; .lugssupporting the stationaryt'contacts. andrextendingito 1 the front of vthe switch block to -form.-termionesendof tlieswitch-block extending-froni back to front thereof;iandlleads secured to theterminals and extending. overthe bus .bars

and through-theslotto the. rear. ofithe switch block;

Signed at London, Ontario, this -18tlrdayofFeb-ruary, 1929.

JOHN H: ALLEN.

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